Adviser Asif Mahmud stated that personal attacks against him are futile, as the legal dispute must be resolved in court. “We have sought the opinion of the Ministry of Law regarding the complexities involved. Since they are the experts, we will reach a decision based on their input,” he said. He clarified that the matter of Ishraq becoming mayor is not his individual decision, but one handled by the government. “And when the government takes action, it does so institutionally, not personally,” he added.